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Era Motorsport Suffers Heartbreak at Halfway Point in Season Finale

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Official Release
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BRASELTON, Ga., (October 3, 2022) – Era Motorsport entered the season finale event of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship with high hopes and a strong chance to win the 2022 LMP2 championship class title at Petit Le Mans. Sadly, a suspension failure just five hours into the 10-hour endurance race ultimately ended the team’s championship hopes leading to an early retirement for the No. 18 Oreca of Dwight Merriman, Ryan Dalziel, and Christian Rasmussen.

“I’m gutted,” said Team Owner Kyle Tilley. “The guys and girls all deserved so much more. We were on the lead lap and both the car and drivers had fantastic pace. This one will sting for a while, given that it’s not only the race we have lost, but the championship.”

Era Motorsport had a character-building start in the minutes leading up to the green flag. The team opted to make some final performance adjustments and join the grid late, knowing it would result in a drive-through penalty in the opening laps. Dwight Merriman followed the protocol and joined the race, masterfully working his way through the slower GTD and GTD Pro classes in less than 30 minutes, building a good momentum. In the first full-course caution at 30 minutes running, the strategists at Era kept Merriman out as the rest of the field pitted, gaining a lap back for the No. 18 Oreca Prototype. The team pitted Merriman under another caution, conducting a full-service stop with Christian Rasmussen taking over the driving duties, one lap down.

Rasmussen waited out the lengthy caution, coming in to pit just before the race resumed in order to top off with fuel. He took his first green laps from sixth place, on the lead lap. The young driver set the fastest lap of the race on his first green lap, determined to catch the No. 20 of Dennis Anderson, over 40 seconds ahead. He quickly passed Anderson, telling the team the car felt lively. He wasted no time in shrinking the 10-second gap to Ben Keating to just 0.5 seconds in a matter of a few laps. He made the pass with 7.5 hours remaining, focusing on the 14-second gap to Steven Thomas in the No. 11 car. A full course caution closed the gap with just under three hours running. The team pitted under the lengthy caution, putting Merriman back in the No. 18 Oreca.

Able to enjoy some extended time racing under the green flag, Merriman continued to maintain fourth position, keep the car safe from the various classes of traffic around Road Atlanta. He gave the Oreca back to Ryan Dalziel, concluding his racing in the event as the field completed four hours of racing.

Dalziel joined the field with a new rear wing, a full tank of fuel, and a fresh set of tires, and kicked his stint into gear. He took third place, and a full course caution brought the field together and positioned him to fight for second place. Sadly, misfortune came to the team just past the halfway point. A right front suspension failure brought the team into pit lane, and eventually to the garage in the paddock to undergo repairs.

The No. 18 returned to the race, repaired and ready to go, sadly 18 laps down from the leaders. Rasmussen commanded the Oreca next, immediately setting the fastest race lap for the LMP2 class. Despite the young racer’s strong speeds, the No. 18 Oreca was not able to finish the race. With five hours of racing complete and five remaining. The Era Motorsport machine retired early.

Though the “DNF” is a sad way to end the season, the team still can take pride in a season well done. At the grueling Twelve Hours of Sebring, the team celebrated a third-place finish with Merriman, Dalziel, and Tilley. At WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, Merriman and Dalziel celebrated a second-place finish and climbed a spot yet again at Road America. The duo celebrated their singular victory of the season at Road America, defending the team’s 2021 win at the Wisconsin circuit. The Indianapolis-based team showed incredible speed and consistency at this year’s 25th Annual Petit Le Mans, closing out the year with another strong performance.

Plans for the team’s future racing programs will be announced at a later date. For more information and latest news, visit eramotorsport.com.

DRIVER QUOTES

Dwight Merriman

We really had all the speed heading into Saturday’s race. We made the most of every practice session and really had the car dialed in. It was an honor and a feat in itself to bring the championship title contest to the final race event, and I wish we had the chance to be there to fight in the end.

Ryan Dalziel

This was obviously not the result that we wanted. A brand-new part failed on the car, and unfortunately, we didn’t feel that continuing was the safe thing to do. I’m so proud of Era and what we accomplished this year, but we just came up short at the end. We have lots of postitives to take into the off-season and get ready for a championship attack in 2023.

Christian Rasmussen

This was not the way we wanted to finish this race. Despite a great car and good speed, we had to retire the car. I’m excited to have had my first IMSA start, and I hope this will be the first of many, because one thing is for sure: I have not had enough.

About Era Motorsport
Era Motorsport was formed in 2018 with the idea of providing unmatched excellence in historic racing. Just two years later, the team expanded to the world of professional sports car racing, fielding an Oreca 07 in the prolific IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. In 2021, the team went on to win at the iconic Rolex 24 At Daytona, in what was their second attempt competing in the event. Motorsport isn’t just a hobby, it is a way of life: a passion that is in the team’s blood. Whether you find us in the IMSA WeatherTech paddock with modern prototypes or chasing down lap records in our fully restored classic sports cars, or even globetrotting to experience historic F1 at some of the world’s most iconic circuits, Era Motorsport has something for everyone. In 2021, the team secured a prestigious victory at the Rolex 24 At Daytona, and also became class champions in the Asian Le Mans Series.

McDowell and Gilliland Finish Top-10; Smith Keeps Playoff Hopes Alive with 17th-place Finish

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Official Release
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Front Row Motorsports (FRM) went superspeedway racing this past weekend at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway as Zane Smith, Todd Gilliland, and Michael McDowell all saw high-speed action.

Zane Smith and the No. 38 Love’s Travel Stops, PEAK Performance Ford F-150 rebounded to a 17th-place finish after blowing a right-rear tire at the end of Stage Two, leaving Talladega 18 points above the playoff cutline.

Todd Gilliland’s Georgia Peanuts No. 38 team grabbed their second top-10 of his rookie season with a seventh-place finish after running inside the top-10 for a majority of Sunday’s race.

Michael McDowell in the No. 34 Love’s Travel Stops, PEAK Performance Ford Mustang came up just short of the victory with a close third-place finish, his career-best 12th top-10 of the season.

Zane Smith entered Saturday’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series playoff race with a 21-point advantage on the cutline, hoping to maintain that gap at the wildcard track, Talladega Superspeedway.

After a good qualifying effort on Friday, Smith started from the fourth position and was able to maintain track position throughout stage one, finishing that stage in the second position and gaining valuable stage points.

On the final lap of the second stage, the No. 38 Love’s/PEAK Performance Ford would suffer a flat tire, still finishing that stage in the ninth position. The team would lose track position under the stage break making repairs from the damage caused by the tire, and with a couple of late cautions, Smith was unable to make up ground.

Finishing the race in 17th, Smith exited Talladega with an 18-point buffer on the cutline entering a two-week break for the Truck Series.

“Honestly, I am really happy that we finished this race,” said Smith. “It was really close there at the end with that big wreck, but we were able to cross the line and keep a decent points advantage on the cutline heading into Homestead. I’m thankful to Love’s and PEAK for coming on board this weekend, and I’m proud of my guys for never giving up after that tire went down, on to Homestead.”

Todd Gilliland and the No. 38 Georgia Peanuts team grabbed their second top-10 of 2022 at Talladega with a seventh-place finish after Gilliland ran up front for the majority of the 500-mile event.

Starting from the 34th position, Gilliland and the crew worked fast, and by the end of stage one, found themselves in 12th. The No. 38 team’s goal was to keep track position all race, and they accomplished just that.

Gilliland put the No. 38 in position to challenge for the win in the closing laps, but with a late race caution with five laps to go, the momentum was lost on the restart, and the No. 38 finished in the seventh position.

“It is great to be disappointed with a seventh-place finish,” said Gilliland. “The No. 38 Georgia Peanuts Ford handled really well in the draft and we were able to make some great moves to get us up front. My guys did a great job on pit road all day to keep us in line with the lead pack. We’ve had some speed these past few weeks without the results to show for it, so it is great to come away with a top-10.”

The Peak Performance, Love’s Travel Stops Ford team of Michael McDowell had a slow start to the weekend. Qualifying toward the lower end of the field, the team expected to qualify where they did, having a car well prepared for the draft.

Through the first two stages of the race, McDowell and his team wanted to play it safe, and conserve their car until it was time to go. With handling issues in the end of the first stage needing multiple long stops, the team took the cautions as opportunities to make their car the best it could be later in the race. After losing the draft to end the second stage, would mean the team could use the chance to top off the car with fuel, so stops in stage three could be as short as needed.

With the strategy developing the way the Love’s, Peak Performance team expected, with some help by cautions, the team would take fuel only on the final stop to gain track position from the mid-teens, up into the top-five running positions. Defending well and working with other Ford drivers, McDowell would be the second car on the bottom line with ten laps remaining. Unfortunately, a timely run by another competitor would hurt the ability for McDowell to force his way up a lane into the tri-oval, giving the Love’s, Peak Performance team a third place finish as they crossed the line.

“It was a fun day, but disappointing to up at the end just short. We had a great Love’s Travel Stops, Peak Performance Ford Mustang. I thought we were in the right place at the end, but didn’t get it done when it counted. We didn’t get to victory lane, but everyone on the team did a great job, and we will head to the Roval knowing we have another shot at it.”

Next, FRM will stay home in North Carolina for NASCAR Cup Series action at Charlotte Motor Speedway on the ROVAL.

ABOUT FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS
Front Row Motorsports (FRM) is a winning organization in the NASCAR Cup and Camping World Truck Series and the 2021 Daytona 500 champions. The team was founded in 2004 and is owned by successful entrepreneur, Bob Jenkins. FRM fields the No. 34 and the No. 38 NASCAR Cup Series teams along with the No. 38 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team– from its Mooresville, N.C. headquarters. Visit teamfrm.com and follow FRM on social media: Twitter at @Team_FRM, Instagram at @team_frm and Facebook at facebook.com/FrontRowMotorsports.

Wayne Taylor Racing Announces Driver Lineup for 2023 Rolex 24 at Daytona and IMSA Michelin Endurance Championship

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Official Release
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Brownsburg, Ind. (Oct. 3, 2022) — During the first official IMSA sanctioned GTP test at Road Atlanta today, Wayne Taylor Racing announced the drivers who will compete at the 2023 ROLEX 24 At Daytona, an event which will mark an influx of new manufacturers, teams, and drivers into IMSA’s top class for the first race of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship GTP era.

Ricky Taylor and Filipe Albuquerque return to full season driving duties in the No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-06 and will be assisted at the 24-hour endurance battle by Brendon Hartley, who put in a fast and crucial triple stint in the exciting Petit Le Mans season finale. Two-time 2022 IMSA LMP2 race winner, Louis Delétraz, will bring his talents to the team’s three longest endurance races of the year—Daytona, Sebring, and Road Atlanta. Delétraz is coming off a fantastic winning drive at Petit just two days ago. The four pilots will compete behind the wheel of the all-new, electrified ARX-06 with the aim of achieving a record-tying sixth overall victory for Wayne Taylor Racing in the Rolex 24.

Team owner Wayne Taylor is excited to have an impressive lineup for the Rolex 24 at DAYTONA with Ricky Taylor, Filipe Albuquerque, Brendon Hartley and Louis Delétraz.

“We signed up our third driver, Louis Delétraz who will be doing all of our long-distance races, including Daytona,” said team owner Wayne Taylor. “We are also announcing that we’ll run Brendon Hartley again. As far as Daytona’s concerned, I cannot imagine a better lineup than what we have. It’s going to be a hard race. One of those races where you have to make it to the checkered flag to win the race. We’ve won a few of these races—it’s what my team does best, and I just need to make sure that they have all the tools. I couldn’t be happier than having Brendon back and I’ve been watching Louis for a while. He’s got experience. He’s young, but he’s very, very mature and he understands what is needed to be that third driver.

As championship contenders this year, Ricky Taylor and Filipe Albuquerque will be carrying momentum into their third consecutive Rolex 24 as teammates. Dubbed the “best teammates on the grid,” by owner Wayne Taylor, the pair’s chemistry and on-track performance over the past two full seasons will be a boost in their first race with a new Acura chassis.

“I think personalities are so important,” said Ricky Taylor, two-time IMSA champion. “At this level of motorsport, there are more than a handful of drivers who can perform at the highest level, but it seems that meshing compatible drivers together to extract the most out of the entire group seems to be the most important element in endurance racing. We were lucky to find Filipe, as he is an incredible teammate. Brendon is coming off a pole and win at Le Mans, and a stellar performance in our team at Petit Le Mans. As a driver and team member, he’s world class. The same can be said for Louis, who has already gelled with the team amazingly well. Aside from his obvious results and speed, he will be a valuable addition to the crew.

“It is so exciting to see the talent joining the championship for 2023”, Taylor continued. “We must make sure we are fully prepared because it will truly be a test against the best in the world come Daytona. The new LMDh cars are a massive evolution from the current DPi cars. We have no idea how they will race together on track. But, technically, these cars are incredibly well thought out. We have made huge strides and the ARX-06 is a pleasure to drive, but there is a lot of work to be done and hopefully Daytona will prove it to be a winner in race scenarios as well.”

Multiple race-winner, two-time Michelin Endurance Cup champion, and IMSA prototype ace Filipe Albuquerque shares his thoughts as well.

“I’m really happy being teammates with Ricky,” said Filipe Albuquerque. “He’s just a star. Such a complete driver and human being. He is so quick behind the wheel and has won a lot. We’ve been fighting closely for the championship each year, and the partnership is working. It is good to have Brendon as my teammate and with Louis on board for the endurance races, we couldn’t be stronger.“

“It’s an exciting moment in the endurance world” continued Albuquerque. “So many great manufacturers and drivers are incoming and it’s so exciting to watch. Going into this era with more diverse competition means that I’m a lucky guy to be involved with developing a new car with a top manufacturer like Acura and HPD. Merging two series with the possibility of a team bringing a car from IMSA to Le Mans and vice versa, it’s going to be interesting to see the different mentalities on track. Everyone wants to be involved somehow. It’s good for the sport.”

Louis Delétraz, the newest addition to the team come January, is a 25-year-old Swiss open-wheel star and sports car champion. Winner of the 2021 European Le Mans Series title, he is currently competing in the World Endurance Championship, taking home second place honors in the LMP2 class at Le Mans in 2022. His LMP2 resume also includes IMSA experience, with an impressive win at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca this year and a dominant win to end the year at Petit Le Mans. Delétraz is ready to bring his talents to the GTP class in his second consecutive year competing at the Rolex 24.

“This lineup is fantastic,” said Louis Delétraz. “I’m really excited to share the car with such talented drivers. Filipe and Ricky welcomed me to the WTR family straight away and already got me up to speed with everything that’s new ahead of 2023. We get along really well, and they want to win as much as I do. I love that mentality! It’s an honor for me to join WTR and Acura in the pinnacle class of sport cars. After successful years in LMP2 in IMSA and Europe it was my target to be here and I’m very thankful for the opportunity. Joining a team with so much history and success makes the expectations high. I can’t wait to get started.”

Hailing from New Zealand, Brendon Hartley, who is already integrated with the team this weekend, is a three-time overall Le Mans winner, two-time World Endurance Championship title winner and former full-time Formula 1 driver with Scuderia Torro Rosso. He has multiple IMSA podiums on his resume, including an endurance win.

“I have really enjoy working with Filipe and Ricky” said Brendon Hartley. “I know Louis from around the paddock and I know he’s fast but also a good guy. I think we have a strong lineup and a team that knows how to win Daytona! The Rolex is always competitive and it’s a race that I respect a lot. It’s not a race that has been kind to me over the years. It’s going to see all the GTP machinery line up on the grid for the first time and I fully expect that we will be fighting for a good result. The electrified Acura ARX-06 has been put through its paces in testing and I think we have all the ingredients to give ourselves a shot at the victory.”

Long-time partner of Wayne Taylor Racing and the IMSA WeatherTech series, Konica Minolta has been a part of the team’s successful run at Daytona International Speedway for many years and is looking forward to the excitement that the new season brings.

The 2023 Rolex 24 at DAYTONA takes place January 26th-29th at Daytona International Speedway. The qualifying race to set the grid, the Roar Before the Rolex 24, runs on January 22nd. Stay tuned to IMSA and Wayne Taylor Racing’s official social channels for updates on start times, TV viewing and streaming details.
ABOUT KONICA MINOLTA

Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. is reshaping and revolutionizing the Workplace of the Future. The company guides and supports its clients’ digital transformation through its expansive office technology portfolio, including IT Services (All Covered), intelligent information management, managed print services and industrial and commercial print solutions. Konica Minolta has been included on CRN’s MSP 500 list nine times and The World Technology Awards recently named the company a finalist in the IT Software category. Konica Minolta has been recognized as the #1 Brand for Customer Loyalty in the MFP Office Copier Market by Brand Keys for fourteen consecutive years, and received Keypoint Intelligence’s BLI 2021 A3 Line of The Year Award and BLI 2021-2023 Most Color Consistent A3 Brand Award for its bizhub i-Series. Konica Minolta, Inc. has been named to the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index for nine consecutive years and has spent four years on the Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World list. Konica Minolta partners with its clients to give shape to ideas and works to bring value to our society. For more information, please visit us online and follow Konica Minolta on Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn and Twitter. The No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-05 effort and Wayne Taylor Racing is supported by an outstanding lineup of partners including Harrison Contracting, Acura Motorsports, Hammer Nutrition and CIT.

NTE/SSR Petit Le Mans Bid Ends with Pit Stop Purgatory

By
Official Release
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BRASELTON, Ga., (October 3, 2022) – NTE/SSR’s promising run at the 25th Annual Petit Le Mans ended on a disheartening note on Saturday evening, as the sports car racing team closed out the 2022 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. The Lamborghini team showed strong potential all weekend long leading up to the season finale race, but in the end, a pitstop error from a neighboring team ended the effort’s hopes of a top-five or podium finish.

“It’s hard to put the words together after all of the time and effort this group has put in all year,” said Team Owner Paul Mata. “Our alternate strategy for Saturday’s race was playing into our hands, but another team’s actions prevented us from seeing it through. That’s just racing, but that doesn’t make it any easier. I’m disappointed for everyone on our team, but still proud of the effort each and every one of them put in.”

The No. 42 NTE/SSR Lamborghini kicked off race week for the Motul Petit Le Mans on strong footing, placing second in the GTD class in the opening practice session. The team made the most of the three practice sessions, cycling drivers Don Yount, Jaden Conwright, and Marco Holzer through to ensure each athlete felt comfortable with the car as the team worked to dial the setup and balance in for the 10 hours of racing ahead.

Inaugural IMSA Diversity Scholarship winner Jaden Conwright produced another impressive qualifying session in the highly competitive GTD field, setting the team up to start from third place on Saturday afternoon. Starting behind the No. 1 BMW of Madison Snow and the No. 39 of Robert Megennis, Conwright had a clean opening lap, taking second place, setting sights on Snow several cars ahead. The first full course caution came in the opening hour, after about 40 minutes of running. Conwright pitted the Lamborghini for a full-service stop, and Don Yount got in the car, taking over the driving duties for the early portion of the race. Under caution, the team again pitted the Lamborghini for a splash of fuel, also giving Yount clean air to race in.

The No. 1 BMW of Snow also had breathing room over the field and was eventually able to catch the Lamborghini to attempt a pass to lap the car. The No. 42 NTE/SSR received some unexpected TV time when the No. 18 Era Motorsport LMP2 car pulled alongside Yount while the Lamborghini held off a pass from the class leader. The prototype spun on its own accord and went off into the gravel trap, bringing out a full-course caution and leading the majority of the GTD class.

Yount stayed out on track while a group of GTD cars pitted under a lengthy caution, beginning hour six from eighth place. The NTE team continued with their unique strategy to pit off-sequence, bringing Yount in just before the field went back to green. The No. 42 Lamborghini had a driver change and took on German Marco Holzer to take the green flag with just under eight hours remaining. Holzer restarted in 11th, behind the No. 27 of Ian James. He made the pass on James and Ryan Hardwick in the No. 16, taking eighth place before another lengthy full-course caution.

Yount and Holzer continued to share turns driving the car over the next several hours, bringing the Lamborghini up from 11th place to sixth. Hour six had a bit of excitement when Holzer came into pit lane to pit for tires and fuel, when he was forced to go off-road to avoid a spun prototype bocking pit lane. He brought the car safely into the box, taking tires and fuel before rejoining.

The team’s alternate strategy began to pay off, and hour by hour, the No. 42 Lamborghini climbed up the charts. With less than two hours to go in the race, the team’s luck once again changed. A last-minute call called for several cars to come into pit lane, including the NTE/SSR Lamborghini and it’s neighboring AWA LMP2 team. AWA pitted unexpectedly and first, mistakenly putting a tire too close on the ground to the NTE/SSR pit box. When Holzer came in to pit the Lamborghini, he had to come in at a different angle and farther away, making the team’s fuel hose unable to reach the car. The team was able to change the tires and pull the car back, fully in the box after the AWA car left, taking additional time to refuel once Conwright returned to the driver’s seat. The move cost the team precious time, effectively putting the squad two laps down.

From there, the team had little chance to climb back up in the time remaining, but still ran, hopeful to capitalize on any late-race cautions or attrition for other cars. In the end, the NTE/SSR Lamborghini finished in ninth place, ending a challenging season with results that failed to reflect the team’s pace and efforts.

“Our program grew exponentially this year, requiring a lot from everyone on our team,” concluded Mata. “Each person stepped up to the plate and rolled with all of the punches. We can still take pride in the fact that we faced many challenges this year and never gave up. It was a great first season racing Lamborghini machinery in WeatherTech and Super Trofeo, and I’m looking forward to what next season brings.”

The team will announce 2023 plans in the coming months.

DRIVER QUOTES

Don Yount

The Lamborghini was good off the trailer when we started this weekend. Ninth place in GTD for Petit Le Mans is a tough result to swallow after such a promising start. We were running clean and had a good pace all race, but an errant pit stop with a prototype in the stall next to us cost us about 60 seconds of time. That far into the race, it knocked us from a top five and possible podium result. Great drives and hard work from the crew for a solid 10 hours of racing and a great effort all season long. Everyone knows the team’s potential and the strong outing this weekend proved it again.

Jaden Conwright

As sad as it sounds, it was nice to finally finish an endurance race without any mechanical issues or penalties. As a team, we’re still working on things, but we’ve made some really great strides as a group this year. We were on a different strategy than the other teams and it was slowly playing into our hands before that pit stop that shook everything up. We just got caught out in a racing mishap that was out of our control. Speed-wise, we were right there with the top three in our class, even faster than some of the GTD PRO class cars. This event showed that we’re fast and have what it takes to compete in such a competitive field. Sadly in racing, it’s not just about speed. But our team has grown and gelled together so well this year under the leadership of Paul Mata. If we can continue to build on what we’ve established this year, we’ll be off to a good start and on stronger footing than where we started this year.

This year’s program would not be possible without the IMSA Diversity Scholarship and I want to thank John Doonan and IMSA for creating this program,. It’s no secret that it’s card to break into professional sports car racing and being the first recipient to receive the honor has not been lost on me. This scholarship aided NTE/SSR in covering entry fees and getting this program on track. Without the scholarship, my season in IMSA would likely have not been possible. I’m thankful for the opportunity to be able to build on my career and compete at such a top level. I can’t wait to be back.

Marco Holzer

Saturday was a disappointing end to the season and hard to swallow. We were looking good at fifth place with two hours to go until that fatal pit stop. We couldn’t park right because there was a tire from a different car in the way, so we couldn’t refuel in a timely manner either. We lost precious seconds and track time that put us back to fighting for a top-ten finish. Without that incident, a podium spot would have been possible. Thanks to the team for the whole year, and to our partners, Lamborghini Dallas, Southwest Funding, and Group A. This team is small but mighty and I hope to be back next year with them. Daytona is coming soon.

About NTE Sport
NTE Sport is based in Dallas, Texas, and first raced in 2020. Owner Paul Mata has been in the industry for over 20 years before starting his own team and has always focused on bringing together a diverse group of individuals to provide new opportunities and bring new people into the sport. Past female drivers include Sheena Monk and Ashley Freiberg, and drivers from diverse racial backgrounds include Ryan Nash, Jaden Conwright, and Kerong Li. Dedicated to bringing highly skilled individuals from various backgrounds, NTE Sport aims to continue to make North American sports car racing a fun, welcoming, supportive environment while participating in the most competitive series in North America.

About Star Spangled Racing
Based in Jacksonville, Florida, Star Spangled Racing is a newer sports car racing team, established in 2020 by first-generation immigrant Tiger Tari from Turkey. Tari is an accomplished businessman, race car driver, and philanthropist with big motorsport ambitions. Star Spangled Racing provides driving opportunities in the USA and Europe. Follow on Instagram here.

About Southwest Funding
Southwest Funding began operations in 1993 under the name Dallas Residential Mortgage. We enjoyed great success early on and before long we were serving the entire state of Texas. This growth caused us to change our name to Texas Residential Mortgage.

As we continued to grow and thrive in the industry, Texas Residential Mortgage was changed to Southwest Funding to better accommodate our growing business in other states.
Today we’re still thriving, thanks in part to happy customers who have spread the word about what our company is doing to help borrowers get a home loan that fits their situation in an enjoyable and timely way. www.southwestfunding.com

Lamborghini Dallas
Lamborghini Dallas has earned the Highest Rated Lamborghini Dealer in the United States award by DealerRater 10 years in a row. With a state-of-the-art showroom, factory-certified service facility, parts depot, and a team of master technicians, Lamborghini Dallas is dedicated to the legacy of the famed raging bull. As a member of Boardwalk Auto Group, we cultivate a focus on top-flight performance. It’s the driving force behind every nameplate we represent, every car we maintain, and every customer we have the privilege to serve. Performance. It’s what we do.

Group A Apparel

We are an action sports apparel brand for the adrenaline minded athlete. Focused on Functional Fitness, Motorsport, Surf, Snow, Skydiving, etc., we aim to support and grow the ever evolving ecosystem of global action/adventure sports.

Website: www.GroupAapparel.com

Instagram: @GroupAapparel

Hubert Davis Named Grand Marshal For Sunday’s Bank of America ROVAL™ 400

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Official Release
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University of North Carolina head basketball coach Hubert Davis has been named Grand Marshal for Sunday's Bank of America ROVAL™ 400 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. (Photo courtesy of Maggie Hobson, UNC Athletics)
  • University of North Carolina men’s basketball coach to give command to fire engines
  • Platinum-selling country music artist Lauren Alaina to wave the green flag
  • GRAMMY-nominated recording artist Cassadee Pope to perform the national anthem

CONCORD, N.C. (Oct. 3, 2022) – America’s Home for Racing will host a star-studded list of dignitaries for the annual Bank of America ROVAL™ 400 on Sunday at Charlotte Motor Speedway, including a bevy of familiar names from the worlds of sports and entertainment.

The University of North Carolina head basketball coach, Hubert Davis, will kick off the most anticipated race in the NASCAR Playoffs when he gives the command for drivers to fire up their engines ahead of Sunday’s Bank of America ROVAL™ 400.

A native of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Davis was named the 20th head coach for the legendary Tar Heels in 2021. He is the first African-American head coach in the history of Carolina basketball. Davis led the team to the NCAA East Regional championship and beat Duke in the Final Four to advance to the national championship game.

A graduate of UNC, Davis played for legendary coach Dean Smith before being selected by the New York Knicks with the 20th overall pick in the 1992 NBA draft. After 12 seasons in the NBA, Davis spent seven years as an analyst for ESPN before returning to Chapel Hill as an assistant coach to Hall of Famer Roy Williams in 2012.

Additional dignitaries for Sunday’s Bank of America ROVAL™ 400 include:

  • Honorary Starter: Lauren Alaina, platinum-selling country music star
  • Presentation of Colors: Burlington Fire Department Honor Guard
  • Invocation: Paula Faris, former anchor of Good Morning America and co-host of The View, author, podcast host and founder of CARRY Media
  • National Anthem: Cassadee Pope, GRAMMY-nominated recording artist

Dignitaries for Saturday’s Drive for the Cure 250:

  • Honorary Starter: E. Reese, Blue Cross NC
  • Presentation of Colors: Cabarrus County Sheriff’s Office
  • National Anthem: Temecula Road, Warner Nashville recording artists
  • Grand Marshals: Mary Justice and Robin Miller, Blue Cross NC

A full weekend of fun kicks off with Fan Friday, featuring an autograph session and driver appearances by Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin, Kyle Busch, Martin Truex Jr., Christopher Bell, Ty Gibbs and Brandon Jones. Fans will also be treated to a unique hauler parade through the fan zone before legendary rocker and Poison frontman Bret Michaels takes the stage. Saturday, NASCAR Xfinity Series drivers will battle it out for victory in the Drive for the Cure 250 presented by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina. Following the race, fans will be treated to a concert by Tim Dugger in the Fan Zone before 3 Doors Down rocks the ROVAL. Rap superstar Nelly will open the final day with a pre-race infield performance that will get everyone hyped as the NASCAR Cup Series will face off in the pivotal Bank of America ROVAL™ 400.

TICKETS:
To purchase Drive for the Cure 250 and Bank of America ROVAL™ 400 race tickets, fans can shop online at www.charlottemotorspeedway.com or call 1-800-455-FANS (3267). Kids 12 and under get in all weekend for just $10. Tickets also include access to any of three nights of A-list music acts, including concerts by Poison frontman Bret Michaels on Friday, Oct. 7; rock band 3 Doors Down on Saturday, Oct. 8; and an infield pre-race concert with rap superstar Nelly prior to Sunday’s Bank of America ROVAL™ 400.

FOLLOW US:

Keep track of all of Charlotte Motor Speedways attractions and events by following on Twitter and Instagram or become a Facebook fan. Keep up with all the latest news and information with the Charlotte Motor Speedway mobile app.

Rebel Rock Racing Finishes Eighth at Road Atlanta

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Official Release
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#71 Rebel Rock Racing Chevrolet Camaro GT4.R GS Frank DePew, Robin Liddell

Braselton, GA. (2 October 2022) – After a qualifying incident forced the team to start from the back of the pack, Rebel Rock Racing closed out the 2022 IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge (IMPC) season with a run to eighth in the Fox Factory 120 on Friday with drivers Robin Liddell and Frank Depew.

While the team had been looking to return to victory lane, the result was still encouraging after a Thursday qualifying session saw Depew suffer from contact that prevented him from setting a time. The Lime Rock Park-winning squad would have to start the race from the back of the pack.

With a robust 39 car field in the two-class contest, the traffic was not encouraging as the duo looked to make progress in the two-hour race right from the drop of the green flag. Depew obliged, moving up to run 20th within 12 laps of the race start. With a long green flag run, Depew was able to get into a consistent rhythm, continuing to deal with TCR traffic and making forward progress to run 18th before taking to pit lane to turn the car over to Liddell.

Returning to the fray 31st overall, Liddell charged forward to make up ground until a full course caution slowed the action on the 52nd lap as the Urban Grid machine ran in podium position. Taking to pit lane for a quick service, the No. 71 Camaro GT4.R restarted from 14th with just over a half an hour of racing to go. Liddell came over the radio ahead of the restart to confirm his orders from pit lane: “just pass as many cars as you can,” which he was able to do consistently as he had moved up to 8th by the time the checkered flag dropped.

“Those were some quick cars that he was closing in on but it was a big gap so it was a pretty strong charge that Robin was making,” said Depew. “It has been a difficult season in some ways—we’ve performed well and had our successes but we’ve also had some things out of our control that set us back. I think this was a good recovery from what happened from yesterday. Just like VIR, in both cases we had unavoidable situations where we were starting from the back and we came out with a top ten. We’re looking forward to next season, hoping that we can put one together all year long.”

“It was an unfortunate incident yesterday in qualifying, there was nothing we could do but it meant we didn’t get a time in, and that we made extra work for the guys last night with another trip to the body shop,” said Liddell. “But just like at VIR, Frank did a really good job, it was a really measured drive from him. He drove a smart race, passed some cars, and did a great job. With just one yellow, we missed the window to dive into the pits before the yellow. But I am not sure how much that would have changed the result. Pretty happy with the overall performance of the team and the result. We executed well.”

The 2022 IMSA season saw several highlights for Rebel Rock Racing including a big victory at Lime Rock Park. Rebel Rock Racing closed out the 2022 season fifth on the Provisional IMPC Championship standings.

http://rebelrockracing.co
https://twitter.com/rebelrockracing
https://www.instagram.com/rebelrockracing/

Post-Race Report | Talladega Superspeedway

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Official Release
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Sparks 300

AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Action Industries Chevrolet

Start: 8th
Stage 1 Finish: 6th
Stage 2 Finish: 3rd
Finish: 1st

“This is Talladega! As much as I do not like superspeedway racing, I love winning in front of this awesome crowd! We’ve been so close to winning one, and I feel like I keep giving them away. All credit goes to my teammates, Landon (Cassill) and Daniel (Hemric). When you have teammates like that, you understand wherever you go, they’ll go together with you.” – AJ Allmendinger

Landon Cassill, No. 10 Voyager Chevrolet

Start: 18th
Stage 1 Finish: 20th
Stage 2 Finish: 24th
Finish: 3rd

“A top five is awesome, but we will want to win. This is what we are capable of at Kaulig Racing. We ran in the top five here in the spring and we always are competitive at these tracks, so I knew we would be there at the end with our teammates if we stayed clean. It’s a bummer we are not in the playoffs, but we know what we are capable of with this team.” – Landon Cassill

Daniel Hemric, No. 11 First Bank of Alabama Chevrolet

Start: 12th
Stage 1 Finish: 3rd
Stage 2 Finish: 20th
Finish: 8th

“Not quite the finish we wanted, but at Talladega, a clean finish is a good finish. When the No.31 car went for a spin near the end of the race, it set me back and I lost about three or four spots. I never thought we would be single file the entire run. “I’m really proud of AJ Allmendinger and the effort from everyone at Kaulig Racing. I’m excited to head to the ROVAL and hopefully have the opportunity to do something special.” – Daniel Hemric  

YellaWood 500

Justin Haley, No. 31 LeafFilter Gutter Protection Camaro ZL1

Start: 21st
Stage 1 Finish: 25th
Stage 2 Finish: 2nd
Finish: 15th

“It was a decent day. We had good recovery after some early damage and even made it as high as second. I thought we were ready to go there at the end, but when it came down to it, we just kind of rode around and were in a bad position.” – Justin Haley

Daniel Hemric, No. 16 Celsius Camaro ZL1

Start: 13th
Stage 1 Finish: 24th
Stage 2 Finish: 9th
Finish: 34th

“Such a disappointing way to end a really good run. We had a fast No. 16 Celsius Camaro and even finished the second stage in the top 10. Ultimately, we had an engine issue which took us out early. I’m bummed for that to be how I finished my schedule in the Kaulig Racing No. 16 car, but we will take it and move on.” – Daniel Hemric  

About Kaulig Racing™

Kaulig Racing™ is a full-time multi-car NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) and NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) team, owned by award winning entrepreneur, Matt Kaulig. Established in 2016, Kaulig Racing™ has made the NXS Playoffs consecutively each season since the playoff system started and made the Championship 4 round in both the 2020 and 2021 seasons. They will continue fielding three, full-time NXS entries; the No. 10 Chevrolet driven by Landon Cassill, the No. 11 Chevrolet driven by Daniel Hemric, and the No. 16 Chevrolet driven by AJ Allmendinger. With multiple wins, Kaulig Racing has come to be one of the top competitors on track each weekend. The team made multiple starts in the NCS in 2021 and won in its seventh-ever start with AJ Allmendinger’s victory at “The Brickyard” for the Verizon 200 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The young team has acquired two charters for the 2022 NCS season, with Justin Haley competing as its first, full-time driver in the series. The team’s second entry will be shared by part-time teammates AJ Allmendinger, Daniel Hemric and Noah Gragson. To learn more about the team, visit kauligracing.com.

Cadillac Racing confirms 2023 WEC driver lineup

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Official Release
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Bamber, Lynn, Westbrook bring passion for winning to Cadillac V-LMDh program

DETROIT (Oct. 3, 2022) — Cadillac is excited to be competing on the world racing stage in 2023, challenging for wins and championships in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) Hypercar classification with the Cadillac V-LMDh race car.

Three drivers with strong ties to Cadillac Racing will drive the Cadillac V-LMDh in the seven WEC races, including Cadillac’s first outing to the 24 Hours of Le Mans since 2002. The 2023 WEC season begins March 17 with the 1,000 Miles of Sebring in Florida.

Earl Bamber and Alex Lynn, who co-drove the No. 02 Cadillac DPi-V.R to victory in the Twelve Hours of Sebring in March, will be joined by veteran sports car racer Richard Westbrook to drive the Chip Ganassi Racing-prepared Cadillac V-LMDh.

The drivers of the all-new Cadillac hybrid prototype will also compete in the Rolex 24 At Daytona in late January – the opening round of the nine-race IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship – in the new Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) class.

“We look forward to new challenges by entering the V-LMDh in the World Endurance Championship,” said Global Vice President of Cadillac Rory Harvey. “Bringing together a world-class team of drivers is paramount to our success next year and Cadillac Racing has accomplished that.”

The driver lineup brings a considerable amount of talent and experience to the WEC calendar that includes races in Europe, Asia, the U.S. and the Middle East.

Bamber has two overall wins from his five starts at Le Mans and was the 2019 IMSA GTLM champion. Lynn, who has driven in 28 WEC races since 2016, won the LMGTE Pro class at Le Mans in 2020 as well as at Spa in 2017 and ’18.

Westbrook, who scored an overall podium finish in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June, is an 11-time race winner in IMSA, where he earned a class victory in the Rolex 24 At Daytona in 2018 with Chip Ganassi Racing. He is also a former Chevrolet Corvette factory driver, Porsche Supercup champion and GT2 champion.

This season, Westbrook co-drove a Cadillac DPi-V.R to a runner-up finish at Sebring and third place at the 24 Hours of Daytona and Long Beach.

Previously, Cadillac Racing announced drivers for its two Cadillac V-LMDh cars in all nine IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship GTP class races.

Renger van der Zande and Sebastien Bourdais, who co-drove the No. 01 V-Performance Academy Cadillac DPi-V.R to three victories this past season, will continue as teammates in a Chip Ganassi Racing-prepared Cadillac V-LMDh.

Pipo Derani, the 2021 IMSA DPi champion, will be paired with multi-faceted British driver Alexander Sims in the sister Cadillac V-LMDh prepared by Action Express Racing.

Additional drivers for endurance races on the 2023 IMSA schedule, beginning with the 61st Rolex 24 At Daytona on Jan. 28-29, will be announced at a later date.

All seven Cadillac Racing drivers are participating in the on-track development of the Cadillac V-LMDh.

“I’m excited to race the Cadillac V-LMDh. I think it looks fantastic and it sounds even better,” Lynn said. “It’s going to really be one for the fans, especially when we take it to Le Mans. I know that the crowd at Le Mans are big fans of American V8s, and this car is going to be no different other than the fact that it’s going to be fighting for the overall victory, which I really believe it’s going to be a fantastic car. I think we’re going to make great memories. There’s one trophy that we’ve all got our minds on and it’s that one.”

Codeveloped by Cadillac Design, Cadillac Racing and chassis manufacturer Dallara, the V-LMDh features an all-new Cadillac 5.5-liter DOHC V-8 engine developed by GM’s Performance and Racing propulsion team based in Pontiac, Michigan. The new V-8 is paired to the LMDh spec energy recovery system and will serve as Cadillac’s first hybrid prototype race car.

What they’re saying

Earl Bamber: “I am really happy to continue at Chip Ganassi Racing and Cadillac. I’ve loved my first season in DPi and now to continue over into the LMDh era and WEC is super exciting. Looking forward to fighting for world championship and another Le Mans victory.

“The World Endurance Championships gives us the opportunity to race at the world’s biggest race, which is Le Mans, the crown jewel of sports car racing. I’ve been lucky enough to win it before and it’s obviously a huge goal for Cadillac and everyone at Chip Ganassi Racing. To have that goal in sight is really exciting.

“It’s been great to have Alex as a teammate in 2022. We’ve been able to learn and grow together in the DPi and we have a really good partnership going into WEC. We know each other really well and believe adding Richard will be a seamless transition. Hopefully, we can kickstart the 2023 season with success.

“The Cadillac V-LMDh car is phenomenal. Since day one we’ve been doing a lot of simulation work. I was lucky enough to be the first driver to get behind the wheel at Putnam and that was a really special moment. The whole team at Cadillac have done a fantastic job. It sounds phenomenal and I think the fans are going to love it. We can’t wait to race it at the start of the 2023 season.”

Alex Lynn: “I’m absolutely thrilled to continue with Cadillac and Chip Ganassi Racing. It’s a huge honor to drive for Chip in any capacity but certainly on a full factory sports car program, it’s seriously cool. Cadillac has so much heritage as a luxury North American sports car brand, so to be able to represent them is a huge privilege. I’ve had a lot of fun in my first year doing it and to continue that onto the World Endurance Championship stage is fantastic.

“For me, returning to WEC is sort of what I’ve always known and it’s a bit like going into my wheelhouse. This year in IMSA was a bit different with getting to know all-new circuits and a new style of racing so 2023 will be filled with a bit more of what I’m used to with more of a European focus.

“I think what’s significant about WEC is without a doubt Le Mans. As a sports car race Le Mans is the crown jewel and everything that we want to win. To be able to take Chip Ganassi Racing and Cadillac back to Le Mans to fight for overall honors is a huge honor and that’s something that I’m going to work tirelessly to make sure we achieve.

“I think Earl and I work well together because we’re very close but also because we challenge each other. Whether it’s on our driving, on the setup of the car, we push and ask a lot of each other, but at the same time, there’s a lot of respect. We’ve thrilled to have Richard come on board and to continue growing a winning program.”

Richard Westbrook:

“After four really good years at Chip Ganassi Racing, I’ve got so many friends there and I’ve always dreamt to come back one day. It just worked so well between 2016 and 2019, and I’m delighted we found a route to come together again. I can’t wait, it’s an exciting era in sports car racing right now.

“It’s a really exciting time to be a sports car drivers when you have all of the top manufacturers throwing everything at it. I personally enjoy helping develop cars and I’m excited for the beginning of Cadillac’s V-LMDh program.

“I feel like I know Alex and Earl really well. I did Le Mans with Alex in 2020 and I’ve known him for years. It feels like I’m going back with an ex-teammate and exactly the same with Earl. Although I’ve never shared a car with Earl, we’ve always done the same sort of racing be it in WEC or in IMSA. We’ve had lots of battles, including this year in our dueling Cadillacs. We’ve always gotten along quite well, and I can say we’re going to have a great year together.

“I’ve really enjoyed my time racing in WEC the last couple of years and particularly at Le Mans. 2023 will be my first year doing a full WEC campaign. I think it will be really exciting for a true American manufacturer to go and tackle the World Endurance Championship, which hasn’t been done for a long time. It’s a type of racing that I’m used to and was brought up on. I’m looking forward to the challenge and the calendar looks great. I can’t wait.”

About Cadillac

A leading luxury auto brand since 1902, Cadillac is growing globally, driven by an expanding product portfolio that features distinctive design and technology. More information on Cadillac appears at www.cadillac.com. Cadillac’s media website with information, images and video can be found at media.cadillac.com.

Tony Stewart Racing: Event Recap for the St. Louis NHRA Midwest Nationals

By
Official Release
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Leah Pruett & Matt Hagan
Top Fuel | Funny Car
NHRA Midwest Nationals
Sept. 30-Oct. 2 | St. Louis

Event Recap

Leah Pruett, driver of the Sparkling Ice +Caffeine Top Fuel Dragster:

● Earned No. 4 provisional qualifying position in Q1 on Friday (3.743 ET at 325.45 mph).

● Earned No. 6 provisional qualifying position based off Friday’s Q1 run. In Q2 on Saturday, Pruett ran a 3.931 ET at 244.87 mph.

● Secured No. 11 qualifying position in Q3 on Saturday (3.729 ET at 329.18 mph).

● Ran a 3.716 ET at 327.03 mph in Round 1 of eliminations on Sunday, lost to Tony Schumacher (3.701 ET at 332.02 mph).

● Currently 11th in the Top Fuel championship standings, 179 points behind leader Justin Ashley.

Matt Hagan, driver of the Baja Vida Snacks Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Funny Car:

● Earned No. 3 provisional qualifying position in Q1 on Friday (3.896 ET at 334.98 mph).

● Earned No. 4 provisional qualifying position based off Friday’s Q1 run. In Q2 on Saturday, Hagan ran a 4.041 ET at 257.92 mph.

● Secured No. 4 qualifying position in Q3 on Saturday (3.867 ET at 335.48 mph).

● Advanced to semifinals on Sunday:

●  Round 1: 4.121 ET at 275.62 mph, defeated Jim Campbell (5.336 ET at 137.15 mph).

●  Round 2: 3.943 ET at 325.14 mph, defeated Bob Tasca III (3.968 ET at 327.51 mph).  

●  Semifinals: 3.945 ET at 330.31 mph, lost to Robert Hight (3.913 ET at 327.59 mph).

● Currently third in the Funny Car championship standings, 103 points behind leader Hight.

Notes of Interest

● Hagan advanced to the semifinals for the third week in a row.

● Hagan’s Round 2 win puts him 24-15 all-time against Tasca. It’s the fifth time this season the two have faced each other, with Hagan holding a 3-2 advantage. Tasca won against Hagan in Round 2 at Norwalk, Ohio, and in the semifinals at Topeka, Kansas. Hagan previously won against Tasca in Round 2 at Pomona, California, and in Round 2 at Reading, Pennsylvania.

● Hagan and Hight had their 43rd career meeting Sunday at St. Louis. It was the sixth time this season the two have competed against each other. Hight now leads 23-20 all-time.

● Pruett and Schumacher faced each other for the second time this season and the duo are now tied 1-1. Pruett previously defeated Schumacher in Round 1 at Epping, New Hampshire. Pruett and Schumacher had the closest side-by-side race in Round 1 of eliminations at St. Louis and had nearly identical reaction times. Pruett had a .066 and Schumacher had a .061.

Leah Pruett, Driver of the Sparkling Ice +Caffeine Top Fuel Dragster

“Gaining momentum in the Countdown has got to be one of the most challenging times of our season, so far. Last week, we pushed our machine harder than we ever had from a mechanical tune-up aspect and believed coming into St. Louis that we would find the edge. During our three rounds of qualifying, our Sparkling Ice +Caffeine machine was starting to become more reactive to our pushes and gaining improved, incremental times. We ultimately have not found a combination that works to qualify us lower in the field, which required .60s. We felt confident going into raceday that we had a reliable racecar that we could push a lot harder with, so we did. Our big moves did make our car deliver big ET improvements, as we improved our time to 3.71, but it wasn’t enough to beat out the Sarge’s (Tony Schumacher) 3.70. Our team’s package would have beat all but one other car in the first round. We ultimately were on the non-winning side of a very tight drag race. We are living in real-time the strength of this team’s commitment to delivering a highly competitive car and we have each other’s back while doing it. I’m so very proud of the quality of work my men put into this team, and we’re closer than we have been since Seattle to showing out. You can see that by the caliber of runs our competition puts up against us, knowing we’re right there.”

Matt Hagan, Driver of the Baja Vida Snacks Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Funny Car

“We have a really great racecar that is going down the racetrack. We were on the good side of a tight drag race with Tasca this morning. We seemed to come up a little short when running the points leader, Robert (Hight). We have to have those rounds to win. If we weren’t trying hard, there would be reason to be mad, but we’re all trying as hard as we can. I really believe in my team. At this point, we have to kind of wait for Robert to mess up, so that we can capitalize on that. We have to tip our hat to him because he’s been running great all year. We are the same caliber team and capable of winning. Sometimes, it just has to be your day. I was really excited to bring Baja Vida Snacks out this weekend and bring something new to the NHRA with Tony Stewart Racing. It’s great for our sport and cool to have them as a sponsor in a new environment for them.”

Next Up

The next event on the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series schedule is the Texas NHRA FallNationals Oct. 13-16 at the Texas Motorplex near Dallas. It is the fourth event in the Countdown to the Championship and the third-to-last race of the season.

Beard Motorsports: Justin Allgaier Talladega Race Report

By
Official Release
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Justin Allgaier Finishes 30th at Talladega
Driver of Beard Oil Distributing Chevrolet Camaro Unable To Overcome Damage from Early Incident

Date: Oct. 2, 2022
Event: YellaWood 500 (Round 31 of 36)
Series: NASCAR Cup Series
Location: Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway (2.66-mile oval)
Format: 188 laps, broken into three stages (60 laps/60 laps/68 laps)
Start/Finish: 31st/30th (Running, completed 186 of 188 laps)
Race Winner: Chase Elliott of Hendrick Motorsports (Chevrolet)
Stage 1 Winner: Ryan Blaney of Team Penske (Ford)
Stage 2 Winner: Chase Elliott of Hendrick Motorsports (Chevrolet)
Stage 1 Recap (Laps 1-60):

● Justin Allgaier started 31st and finished 31st.

● The driver of the No. 62 Beard Oil Distributing Chevrolet Camaro ran safely in the back of the pack during the opening laps. He was 29th when the day’s first caution flag flew for debris on lap seven.

● Allgaier reported that his racecar was free on entry and had trouble turning in the corners during those initial laps, so the No. 62 team called him to pit road for a wedge adjustment and to top off the fuel tank.

● On lap 25, Allgaier was caught up in an eight-car accident in turn one that sent him into the grass. He returned to the pits for four tires and to repair damage. He restarted in 35th on lap 30, one lap down.

● When the caution flag waved on lap 44 for a single-car incident in turn two, Allgaier was the first car a lap down and received the free pass to earn his way back onto the lead lap. He reported that his racecar was “a bit tighter than before the wreck” prior to pitting for four tires and fuel before the lap-49 restart.

● The Beard Oil Distributing driver hung back in the closing laps of the stage, finishing 31st. The team brought Allgaier down pit road during the break for scheduled service.

Stage 2 Recap (Laps 61-120):

● Allgaier started 29th and finished 32nd.

● In the initial laps, Allgaier stayed back in 33rd and raced conservatively, but he struggled to find speed.

● Due to strong winds and previous damage to his racecar, Allgaier lost the draft and reported that he felt as if the car kept getting slower. The team planned to stay out as long as possible while the field cycled through green-flag pit stops in an effort to get a good reading on the racecar, all while hoping for a caution.

● The caution did not occur, forcing Allgaier to the pits for fuel on lap 105. He returned to the race in 32nd.

● The remainder of the stage was caution-free. Allgaier was unable to overcome the issues with his racecar and finished 32nd, two laps down. The team pitted during the break for four tires and fuel.

Final Stage Recap (Laps 121-188):

● Allgaier started 33rd and finished 30th.

● The Spaulding, Illinois-native started the final stage two laps down, but still managed to keep pace with the lead pack.

● With 34 laps to go, Allgaier opted to bail out of the lead pack as “they were getting squirrely.” He reported that he was too tight all around the track.

● The No. 62 Beard Oil Distributing Chevrolet Camaro came down pit road with 27 laps to go for a fuel-only stop.

● On lap 184, Allgaier came back down pit road for his last stop of the race for right-side tires and to top off the fuel tank.

● Allgaier finished the race in 30th, two laps down to the leaders.

Notes:

● Chase Elliott won the YellaWood 500 to score his 18th career NASCAR Cup Series victory, his fifth of the season and his second at Talladega. His margin of victory over second-place Ryan Blaney was .046 of a second.

● There were six caution periods for a total of 25 laps.

● Twenty-seven of the 37 drivers in the YellaWood 500 finished on the lead lap.

Justin Allgaier, driver of the No. 62 Beard Oil Distributing Chevrolet Camaro:

“Obviously, it’s kind of a bittersweet ending to the day, but I’m really thankful to the Beard family and everybody that’s on this Beard Motorsports 62 team. The first incident, we were kind of out there mixing it up a little bit, just trying to make sure the other teams knew that we had a car capable of running up front, but we got a little too much damage. From there, that just put us behind the eight-ball. We rode around and did all the things we needed to do all day but it just didn’t work out for us. I hate it for the team, I hate it for all the partners, obviously Beard Oil and everybody who supports the Beard Motorsports team. Just a bummer ending to a good day.”

Next Up:

The next event on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule is the Bank of America Roval 400 on Sunday, Oct. 9 on the Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway Roval. The race starts at 2 p.m. EDT with live coverage provided by NBC and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

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